ANTH150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Sedentism, Dowry, Childbirth
10 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
ANTH150 Lecture
VI: Race, Ethnicity, and Social Stratification
Marriage Gifts
• Dowry: transfer of goods from bride’s family to the new couple
• Brideprice/bridewealth: transfer of goods/money from groom’s family to bride’s family
Form of Marriage
• Monogamy
• Polygamy
• Polygyny
• Polyandry
Polygamy
• Overall: it is allowed in a majority of societies, but practiced by few
Human Reproduction
• We are interested in what influences how and in what numbers we produce
Foraging Mode of Reproduction
• Why are there several years between births and a few number of births?
Agricultural Mode of Reproduction
• “Sedentism” + agriculture = high fertility rates
Family Planning
• How can family planning initiatives be successful? What is needed?
Industrial Mode of Reproduction
• Reproduction declines (a demographic transition occurs)
• Children are seen are less financially useful
Fertility Decision-Making
• Fertility decision-making occurs are three levels
• The family
• The state
• Globally
Childbirth and Context
• What does our preference for hospital birth say about our culture?
• Other cultures prefer home birth and/or birth surrounded by family and friends
Childcare Differences
• What are some of the rule for caring for babies in our culture?
• What are some underlying cultural values they are attempting to teach?
What is a Child?
• “Societies take what are essentially straightforward, biologically grounded dispositions for
example, puberty, or pregnancy, or menstruation, and weave around them the most intricate
webs of custom, attitude, and belief”
Defining Childhood
• More than just an age range
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Marriage gifts: dowry: transfer of goods from bride"s family to the new couple, brideprice/bridewealth: transfer of goods/money from groom"s family to bride"s family. Form of marriage: monogamy, polygamy, polygyny, polyandry. Polygamy: overall: it is allowed in a majority of societies, but practiced by few. Human reproduction: we are interested in what influences how and in what numbers we produce. Industrial mode of reproduction: reproduction declines (a demographic transition occurs, children are seen are less financially useful. Fertility decision-making: fertility decision-making occurs are three levels, the family, the state, globally. Childbirth and context: what does our preference for hospital birth say about our culture, other cultures prefer home birth and/or birth surrounded by family and friends. Societies take what are essentially straightforward, biologically grounded dispositions for example, puberty, or pregnancy, or menstruation, and weave around them the most intricate webs of custom, attitude, and belief . Defining childhood: more than just an age range.
